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We offer easily customizable courses on evenings and weekends for busy adults who want to grow in knowledge and love of their faith. Enroll in a class, start your Master’s degree, or audit a class for your personal edification.
***ADMISSIONS FOR FALL 2026 ARE CLOSED – APPLICATIONS FOR SPRING 2027 WILL OPEN OCTOBER 1***
Admissions should be submitted by the final day of Open Registration for the upcoming semester. The Admissions and Degrees Committee votes on the admission of prospective students only after all application materials have been received.
Admissions Priority Deadline for Financial Aid: June 1 for Fall admissions; November 1 for Spring admissions
Applications after the aforementioned may be considered for on a case-by-case basis. The Office of Admissions will review applications upon receipt of all required documents.
- New Fall students: June 1
- New Spring students: November 1
To learn more, please review our Catalog
Dr. Joey Belleza, Program Director
Phone: 513-233-6180
Email: jbelleza@athenaeum.edu
We’re here to aid you in pursuing Christ and deeper integration of your faith through lifelong learning. Contact us today with admissions questions!
Academic Calendar
Fall Semester
| May 4, 2026 | First Day of Early Registration for Fall 2026 classes |
| July 6, 2026 | First Day of Open Registration for Fall 2026 classes |
| August 5, 2026 | Last Day of Open Registration for Fall 2026 classes |
| August 19, 2026 | School of Theology evening classes begin |
| August 24, 2026 | Seminary and daytime classes begin |
| September 4, 2026 | Last Day to Withdraw Without a Grade of ‘W’ |
| September 7, 2026 | Labor Day – no evening classes (daytime classes in session) |
| September 8, 2026 | First day of Early Registration for Spring 2026 classes |
| October 12, 2026 | Columbus Day – Classes in Session |
| October 19-24, 2026 | Mid-Semester Break – no classes |
| November 2, 2026 | First Day of Open Registration for Spring 2026 classes |
| November 25-28, 2026 | Thanksgiving Break – No Classes |
| December 8, 2026 | Immaculate Conception – no day classes or exams (evening classes in session) |
| December 7-12, 2026 | Final Week of Classes and Exams |
| December 11, 2026 | Last Day of Open Registration for Spring 2026 Classes |
Spring Semester
| September 8, 2026 | First Day of Early Registration for Spring 2027 classes |
| November 2, 2026 | First Day of Open Registration for Spring 2027 classes |
| December 11, 2026 | Last Day of Open Registration for Spring 2027 classes |
| January 4, 2027 | Classes begin |
| January 15, 2027 | Last Day to Withdraw Without a Grade of ‘W’ |
| January 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Classes in Session |
| January 21-22, 2027 | March for Life/Seminary Days of Recollection – No Day Classes |
| February 15, 2027 | Presidents’ Day – Classes in Session |
| March 1, 2027 | Early registration for summer term begins |
| March 1-6, 2027 | Mid-Semester Break – no classes |
| March 12, 2027 | May 2027 Graduation Applications Due |
| March 22-April 2, 2027 | Holy Week and Octave of Easter – No Classes |
| April 1, 2027 | Open registration for summer term begins |
| May 3-7, 2027 | Final Week of Classes and Exams |
| May 8, 2027 | Graduation |
Course Offerings – Spring 2027
Some graduate-level evening classes are offered every other year. The table below shows the courses that will be offered in 2026-27 and the courses that will be offered the following academic year. Non-elective courses that are not on this list will be offered every year.
| Fall 2026 | Fall 2027 |
| B 601 (2) New Testament | B 501 (2) Old Testament |
| H 570 (2) Church History | LS 6000 (2) Theo. of Liturgy |
| LS 6120 Sacramental Theology | P 741 (1) Effective Communication |
| S 541 (3) Fundamental Dogma | P 748 (2) Parish Seminar |
| PH 509 (2) Philosophy for Theology | |
| S 614 (2) Foundations for Ministry |
| Spring 2027 | Spring 2028 |
| MT 6000 (2) Catholic Social Doctrine | MT 5000 (2) Fundamental Moral Theology |
| S 6110 (2) Ecclesiology | MT 650 (1) Contemporary Issues |
| S 613 (1) Domestic Church | P 731 (2) Basic Canon Law |
| P 715 (2) Catechesis | S 5600 (2) Christology |
| P 716 (1) OCIA | S 591 (3) Christian Anthropology |
Schedule a Visit
Course: The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Bible (B 650)
Professor: Dr. Matthew Genung
Class Time: Thursday, 7-9:40 p.m.
Dates: January 7-March 18
While some claim that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is rarely mentioned in the Scriptures, Mary may be found throughout the Bible – in both Old and New Testaments. This course will explore selected texts that witness to the revelation of the person of Mary and her role in the divine plan.
Course: The Beauty of Holiness: Catholic Art, Music and Architecture (CS 560)
Professor: Dr. Christopher Holman
Class Time: Thursday, 2:05-3:45 p.m.
Dates: January 7-May 6
This course examines the role of beauty in Catholic worship, philosophy, and theology through the study of sacred art, music, and architecture. Drawing on Scripture, the Church Fathers, and historical examples from the early Church to the present, students explore how the arts express and shape the Church’s liturgical and spiritual life, and how the Church in turn has shaped culture through her patronage over the past two millennia. Particular attention is given to practical questions priests often encounter in parish settings involving sacred space, music, textiles, and visual art.
Course: Religious Freedom in the American Context (CS 631)
Professor: Dr. Kenneth Craycraft
Class Time: Monday, 7-9:40 p.m.
Dates: January 4-March 15
In recent years, ever more social, political, and legal issues bear directly on the problem of religious freedom. This course will examine the historical foundation of the American doctrine of religious liberty, from its 17th century philosophical foundations, through 18th century debates, leading to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. We will then explore the Church’s responses to the unique American expression of religious liberty, through official documents and theological reflections. Finally, we will consider the ways that contemporary legal and political developments directly challenge the liberty of both Church and individual believer.
Our synchronous online courses allow students to fully engage with instructors and classmates in real time. Students access live lecture streaming and participate fully in class through classrooms equipped with distance-learning audiovisual equipment and software.
Our asynchronous online courses have been designed by veteran faculty with the support of educational consultants specializing in online learning. Students will be guided through learning modules with their instructor, who will be readily available to students. These courses intentionally focus on interaction with the instructor and with classmates, real application of course content and the delivery of an authentic educational experience.
Registration
To register for an online class, log in to your Populi account and click on the “Registration” tab. Courses labeled with “WEB” after the course number are offered online. For example:
MT 5000-1: Fundamental Moral Theology (in-person)
MT 5000-WEB: Fundamental Moral Theology (online)
For help registering for online courses, contact the Registrar at jroyer@athenaeum.edu or 513.231-2223, Ext. 118.
2026-27 Graduate Tuition
| Per Credit Hour | $600 |
| Per Audit Hour | $300 |
| Per Audit Hour (alumni and senior citizens 65+) | $175 |
2026-27 Certificate Tuition
| Per Credit Hour | $250 |
| Per Audit Hour | $125 |
2026-27 Other Fees
| Late Registration Fee | $45 |
| Graduation Fee | $75 |
| Academic apparel rental for graduation | $40 |
| Lay Ecclesial Formation Project Fee | $140 |
| Credit Card Convenience Fee (for all credit card transactions) | 3% |
College Financing Plan
The College Financing Plan is a tool provided by the U.S. Department of Education. This standardized form helps prospective students calculate their costs and financial aid so they can make an informed decision regarding their enrollment at the institution. This can also be used to compare costs and financial offers from multiple schools.
The College Financing Plan (previously known as the shopping sheet) is required as part of the Principles of Excellence Program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Institutions utilizing this form provide the necessary consumer information required by PL 116-315 § 1018 and 38 U.S.C. § 3679(f).
Financial Aid
The Athenaeum does not participate in Title IV Federal Student Aid programs.
The School of Theology administers its own need-based financial aid for lay students. To be eligible, a student must be admitted and enrolled in a degree or certificate program. For more information, visit the ‘Financial Aid & Scholarships’ tab here.
Other types of aid may be available to enrolled students, including ministry grants or parish scholarships. Students serving as parish catechists may call the Archdiocese of Cincinnati’s Office of Evangelization and Discipleship for information about continuing education grants for catechists.
College Financing Plan Template
This worksheet provides the estimated annual cost of your program, based on the information you provide. The actual cost may differ. If you have questions about items and information referenced in the worksheet, please contact the Registrar: email registrar@athenaeum.edu, phone 513.233.6118.
If you are an educator, Lay Ecclesial Minister or an alum of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology (MTSM), you are eligible for a 25% tuition discount.
- Educators must be employed by an Archdiocese of Cincinnati or Diocese of Covington recognized school.
- Lay Ecclesial Ministers include Directors or Coordinators of Religious Education, Pastoral Associates or Staff, RCIA Directors, Catechists, etc.
- Permanent Deacons* and Priests must be in good standing with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Alumni must have completed a recognized program and obtained a degree or certificate from MTSM.
*The Office of the Diaconate of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is offering an additional 25% for an overall total of 50% off tuition for Permanent Deacons.
Try a class and discover:
• Outstanding Faculty
• Personal & Spiritual Growth
• Revitalization of Your Ministry
• Continuing Education Units
Need-Based Financial Aid
The School of Theology administers its own need-based financial aid for lay students.
To be eligible, a student must be admitted and enrolled in a degree, certificate or endorsement program. Financial Aid Applications for the School of Theology are accepted at designated times throughout the academic year. Students may not receive institutional scholarship awards that exceed the cost of tuition.
For more information about School of Theology financial aid, contact the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrar.
The institution is Title IV-eligible, but has elected not to participate in Title IV programs. Eligibility is maintained for the purposes of processing in-school deferment requests for eligible students (i.e., those in at least a half-time rate of pursuit).
Grants, Scholarships, and Other Sources of Aid
We encourage students to be proactive in locating outside sources of financial aid. You may wish to discuss tuition needs with your pastor, as some parishes assist active parishioners with tuition and/or book fees. Catechists may contact the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Office for Evangelization and Discipleship (513-421-3131) for information about the Gabrielle Bouscaren Fund, which offers support for the continuing education of catechists. Some courses may be reimbursed by your place of employment. Members of fraternal, social or civic organizations should explore the possibility of scholarships via their organization.
Priority Deadlines
Priority given to applications received before the dates below. To secure the award, recipients must confirm enrollment by the dates below.
Fall Semester: July 1
Spring Semester: November 1